Improvement in springs for vehicles



LTILTON.

Springs fur Vehicles.

Patented Dec. 1,, 1874.

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Witnesses;

UNITED STATES PATEN'LQEEIQE.

JOSEPH TILTON, OF NEW YORK. N.,Y., ASSIGNOE OF ONErHALF HIS RIGHT TO RUFUS M. STIVERS, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN SPRINGS FOR VEHICLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 157,430, datcd December 1, 1874; application .filed November 25, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, J OSEPH TiL'roN, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Springs for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification:

The object of the present invention is to provide springs designed especially for buggies, carriages, and other light vehicles, which shall obviate all rocking motion otLt-he body supported thereon, and cause the latter to be always maintained in a horizontal position when moving up or down, or when in a stationary position.

The invention consists in the employment of two independent crossed-leaf metal springs, the ends of which are rigidly secured to the opposite ends of the cross-bar supporting the vehicle-body, each spring being formed or provided with a socket, and the two sockets meeting each other at the center of the body-supporting bar, so as to enable an axis or pivot bolt to be passed through both sockets, for enabling the springs to turn thereon when the body is elevated or depressed. The invention further consists in securing a bearing and reeuforcing plate of metal to the under side of the body-supporting bar, said plate being provided with pendent flanges at both ends, to serve as bearing-points for the ends of the springs, in order to prevent any lateral movement of the same, and to serve, in connection with fasteningbolts, to securely hold the springs in place.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top or plan view, representing my improved spring attached to the side sills of the platform-gear. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same, taken on the line as m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top or plan view of the springs crossed and pivoted together, their supporting-bar being removed.

It is well known that elliptic or semi-elliptic springs, secured to the center of the cross-bar supporting a carriage-body, will permit the same to rock from side to side, which is objectionable for various reasons.

I propose to maintain a buggy, carriage, and other vehicle-body alwaysin a horizontal position in respect to the springs and runninggear, and this is accomplished by employing a pair of springs, A A, which may properly be termed sections of semi-elliptic springs. The springs are arranged to cross each other at the center of the cross-bar B, upon which the carriage-body is placed, and their-elevated or upper ends are permanently secured at the opposite ends of said cross-bars by means of bolts and nuts a. Each spring is provided with a socket, c, at the crossing-point, and through said sockets, which are thus brought in line with each other, an axis or pivot bolt, D, is passed. A nut, b, is applied to the screwthreaded projecting end of the bolt for securing the same in place. Each spring is generally formed of two or more leaves-a long lower leaf and a shorter upper leafthis construction being resorted to in order to obtain greater strength, and to enable the socket O to be more readily formed.

When two leaves are employed the socket is made by bending the upper leaf so asfto form a semicircular or curved portion, and then, by applying the other leaf, a complete closed socket for the axis-pin is provided. The socket can also be made by dispensing with one leaf and welding or riveting a short piece over the curved or semicircular seat portion.

It is evident that a semicircular socket may be formed in each leaf, so that when brought together a circular socket or seat will be formed, in either case not impairing the strength, beauty, or finish of the spring.

In order to prevent the separation of the leaves at the point where the socket is located there should be inserted through both leaves, on each side of the socket, one or more rivets, so as to enable the spring to resist the strain to which it is subjected at this point. The end of the longer leaf of each spring is provided with an eye, E, through which passes a suspensionbolt, F, fitted in the lower portion of a double shackle or clip, G. Said shackle is secured to the longitudinal side sill or bar H of the runninggear in any approved way. The crossed position of the springs, in respect to the body-supporting bar B, is effected by curving said bar in the center so as to cause its ends to be out of line with each other. The springs can thus be arranged side by side, and be bolted to the ends of the bar.

A straight bar carr rls ogg be employed; but, in this instance, the spring's'must be cut away, or provided with notched contiguous edges, to enable them to be fitted in this manner. The lower ends of the springs having the eyes are brought in a direct line with each other by bending the outer portions of the springs toward each other, or in opposite directions. The object of having the ends of the springs in line is to enable them to be attached, directly opposite each other, to the side sills, which adds to the appearance or finish of the vehicle having my springs applied thereto. The ends of the springs need not necessarily be in line with each other, and, when so arranged, bending is obviated, as they can be made perfectly straight.

A metallic re-enforcing and bearing plate, I, is secured to the under side of the carriagebody-supportin g bar, said plate beingprovided with pendent flanges J at its sides. The bolts securing the springs to the cross-bar are located at a short distance from said flanges, and the ends of the springs which project beyond the bolts bear against the flanges, the latter serving thus as hearings or stops for preventing any possible endwise motion of the springs; also, as a medium for relieving the spring-attaching bolts from excessive strain. The crossed springs, arranged as shown, enable the carriage-body to move up and down at all times without afl'ecting its horizontal position in the least, for, no matter where the weight predominates, both springs will move in unison with each other, thus obviating the objectionable rocking motion in carriages having the ordinary springs.

In most instances, and especially in vehicles constructed for light road purposes, itis intended to have the side sills, to which the springs are attached, connect with or rest upon the bolsters, though it is apparent that in that class of wagons designed for transporting heavy weights the side sills should rest upon suitable front and rear transverse springs, in which case the end springs will take off the greater portion of the jars and concussions.

What I claim is- 1. The combination of two springs, each composed of one or more leaves, and hinged together at their crossing-point, and provided with an eye at one end to connect with the side sills of the runninggear, and at the other end connected with the cross-bar for supporting the body of the vehicle, substantially as described.

2. The two leaf-springs, each provided with a socket at their crossing-point, in combination with a pivot or axis bolt, substantially as described.

3. The combination of two springs side by side, and connected together, with the side sills and cross-bar, for supporting the body in a horizontal position between the side sills, substantially as described.

4. The re-enforcing and bearing plate I, having end flanges, in combination with the body-supporting bar and the connected crosssprings, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 24th day of November, 1874.

JOSEPH TILTON. [L.

Witnesses:

D. P. JANNINS, Jr., GEO. E. W. STIvERs. 

